Improvement in car-couplings



-2 Sheetsf-Sheet 1l R. GROVE. 'CAR-cowLIm-Gs.

y No.'194=.3`01. Patented Aug. 21,1871.

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z sheets-'sheet z. R. GR 0 VE. cAn-coUPLINGs.

N o 194 301, Patented .Auge Z1, i877 s 17%,* sa,

" Y Gfwq specification.

To said draw-head at I is hinged or pivoted cords, bywhich it is liftedtorpermit the un- `movement of the holder.

UNITED sabanas,

RICHARD GROVE, oF

IMPROVEMENT IN `NORTH LIMA, oHIo.

CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,3()1, dated August21, 1877 application filed April 19, 1877.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD GROVE, of North Lima, in the county ofMahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Railway-Gar Gouplings; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use it, reference being had to the accom panying drawings,which formV part of this My invention relates to railway car couplings;and consists in the parts and combinations, as hereinafter specified andclaimed.

'In the drawing,`Figure l represents a perspective view ot acar-coupling device embodyingmyinvention. Fig.2representsaside, end, andbottom view of the connecting-link holder of the draw-head. Fig. 3 is acrosssection of the draw-head with link-holder detached. Fig. 4represents the connecting-link as held by one draw-head, and in the actof entering the other draw-head.

In Fig. l, my device is represented as attached to a car-a freight-car,for instance. The draw-head A is secured to the car in any effectual andsuitable manner. It is formed with a daring mouth, and provided with theprojections B, C, and D, thus forming the depressions E and G and theinclined plane H.

the link-holder K, which is provided with the projections L and M. Saidholder is also formed with the projecting sides 7c It', which latterrest on top of the draw-head. The projection M is cut 0E or beveled toform the inclined plane H', to correspond to the opposite inclined planeH. Said projection M is constructed so as to form the inclined sides mm', for the purpose of facilitating the entrance of the connecting-link,as will be hereinafter described.

To the free end of the link-holder, on its upper side, are attached thechain, chains, or

locking of the coupling or connecting link. The said holder may behinged to the draw head in any suitable manner, to permit a free Whenthe link-holder K is in its closed p0- projection L and depression G areso placed that when any pull is exerted by the link the side Z willpress against the side a of the projection (l, and thus relieve thehinge I from v any pressure.

If the hinge is constructed of a rod which passes through openings -inthe head and holder, these openings are preferably made larger than thecross-section of the rod, so as to allow a free movement of the parts,as well as to obviate any pressure on the rod.

N and represent chains connected with the free ends of the link-holder,by which the same may be raised, and thus permit lthe coupling-link to'be withdrawn. Chain N is connected with a lever, n, pivoted at n', whichmay be operated from the platform ofthe car, while chain O may beoperated by the handleI cfrom the top of the car. The latter is 'specially applicable to freight-cars, but the former may also be employedon the same.

The operation of the device is as follows: As the car approaches the oneto which it is to be coupled, its coupling or connecting link strikesthe inclined plane H of the funnelshaped or flaring mouth of thedraw-head, which flaring month is made sufficiently large so that thefree end of the couplingpin, however niuch it may sag, shall alwaysstrike and ride upon said inclined plane H. When the free end of theconnecting-link has reached the top of the inclined plane H, havingpassed between it and the inclined plane m of the projection M, itstrikes the inclined plane m and lifts the free end of the link-holder Kto a height sufficient to allow the end of the link to pass beyond theprojection M. The moment this is done the holder K returns to itsoriginal position, so that the link is retained in the space S behindthe projection M, by

means of the projection L, which has dropped intol itswcavity ordepression'G. As the holder isfpivotediatgL above thevline of directionofthe pull that may be exerted by the 'couplinglink, any pull exerted bysaid link onthe .pro-v jection M only causes the projection L to remainmore securely in itsv positionrandlthus retain the link in place.

It is evident that since the link rests on the projection B on bothsides of the .'projection; M, it cannot rest on the bottom of E, and,

therefore, cannot pass under the projection It should also befurtheryzobserved that the depression E is made of such a depth and thatthe projection M extends into the same for such a distance as topreclude the possi-l bility .of the link, however elevatedor ,movedl atits free, end, from A.passing vunder the-said projection, and thusbecome disengaged therefrom. -lfthe link is forced inward .horiziontallyit will abut against thevprojection C. If sufticiently depressed yat oneend itjnay lift the .holder Ktosome extent, if forced in-I ward; but themomentit recedes the holder will fall lback. to its original positionandhold the link in plwe.

When it isdesired to release the link, itis onlynecessaryto ,lift thefree end of theholder Klby means of the chains 'before described,whereby the projection M is suiciently raised or...elevated.above theprojectionrB yto allow; the linkvto pass between the same,and betbusgwithdrawn.

I n place ofthe chainany other deviceqto lift the holder may beemployed.

`The projectionl D servesas a .stop .to ypre-l ventthelink-holder frombeing .forced v,in-l wardlhkmd is relatively so placedasto lieve thekpivot or hinge I from vBully Strain.

TheV body lof. the, llink-,holderisnlade ofra suiiicient height .orwidthto serve e'ectnally thepurpose of a guide, lso as always to insure;

' the return of the holder to its properposition when elevated. .-Ifdesired,` the Vproj ection `M may .beforgned as .indicated by the dottedline o: ink Eig. 4 .but I prefery the construction previously describedWhat I claim is- 1. The combination of the draw-head `A, provided withrespective depressions E and G, Vwith the link-holder K, pivoted orhinged to the draw-head at I, and provided with projectionsL and M,substantially as described.

2. The combination of the draw-head A, provided with ,l depressionsE andG, and inclined plane H, with the link-holder K, pivoted at I to thedraw-head, and provided with projectionsiL and VMfthe latter formed withthe inclined surface 'In m', and inclined plane H', substantially as andfor the purpose described.

'Ihe combination, with a draw-head provided with projection C, formedbetween the depressions E and G, of a link-holder, pivoted or hinged tothe front of the drawhead, .and provided with the rearprojection L, thesaine beingeonstructed to. relieve the said hinge or: pivot ofall straincaused yby the 1,action ot'` the .coupling-link, substantially as Y andfor the purpose described.

,4. The combination of la draw-head, provided with ldepreassion G,angular. projection -B,an d depression; E, with vthe 1link-holder AK,pivoted to the draw-head,.and provided with i projections L and M,thelatter extending to such a depth into the depression Eas to prel ventthecoupling-link vfrom passingnnder the l, same ,when the holder is in`itsclosed position, l Substantially as described.

y5. The coinbination, ,with the draw-head A, provided with `respectivedepressions E :and lGr, and, the lvlink-holder K, pivoted,or, hingedtotheldraw-:headat I, and provided with projections L and ,'M, in`combination 4with respective chains or cords ,and suitable operat- ,1ingfmechanism, whereby1 the `said link-holder maybe disengaged from itscoupling-link, by

p one standing on either thetop lor the platform of a car, snbstantiallyas `described.

vIn .testimony ywhereof I have signed ymy name .to .this specification linthe ypresence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

l RICHARD GROVE. Witnesses: ,FRANCIS TQUMEY, W. E. DONNELLY.

